Naoki was in a great mood.
To celebrate, he invited Ivan for a meal in the City. They chose a well-known spot, the Fresh Fish Restaurant, specializing in seafood dishes.
The two sat under a parasol with their Cyclizar nearby, and the waiter soon brought out a variety of fish dishes along with four drinks. Naoki placed a plate of fresh salmon sashimi in front of his Cyclizar, saying, "It's really thanks to you today, Ivan. Otherwise, I would've taken forever to find a butler Pokémon."
Ivan grinned and shrugged. "It was nothing! Is there anything else you need help with?"
Naoki, thinking about his plans, asked, "Do you know where I can learn to make Poke Blocks?"
"Poke Blocks?" Ivan paused to eat a piece of fish before thinking carefully. "I'm not sure. People who are good at making Poke Blocks are usually Pokémon breeders."
"Where do they learn how to make them?" Naoki asked.
Ivan tapped his chin. "Probably from the Breeder's Association, but I'm not certain. I'm just a small-town mailman. Don't worry though, I'll help you look into it next time I'm delivering letters."
"Thank you, I appreciate it," Naoki said gratefully.
Ivan then added with a mischievous smile, "But don't forget—you owe me! Don't let me down at next year's horse race!"
Naoki couldn't help but internally grumble. 'He's still thinking about the 10,000 Poke Dollars he lost in the race!
Still, Naoki wasn't sure if he could fulfill the promise, given his responsibilities at the ranch. He couldn't leave the Paldea region for too long.
Seeing Naoki's hesitation, Ivan playfully insisted, "No! We made a deal! I help you find the butler Pokémon, and you help me win back those 10,000 Poke Dollars!"
"Alright, alright," Naoki conceded with a smile. "Once winter comes and the fields are less demanding, I'll go out and see if I can find any horse Pokémon for you."
By that time, Naoki reasoned, the two Indeedee would be helping with the ranch work, freeing him up to take a trip to the Galar region.
Ivan was satisfied but still a bit skeptical. "But horse Pokémon don't appear much in the winter, do they?"
"Well, not all," Naoki replied with a smirk, recalling the Calyrex's Glastrier, the Ice Rider Pokémon. "Some horse Pokémon have Ice-type attributes. They thrive in snow and ice."
Ivan blinked in confusion. "I've never heard of such a Pokémon."
Naoki grinned, keeping it vague. "You'll see when the time comes."
"Alright then!" Ivan said, grinning. "I'll wait for your good news!"
After finishing their meal, they mounted their Cyclizar and headed back.
By the time Naoki returned to his ranch, it was already two o'clock in the afternoon.
A group of Pokémon were basking in the afternoon sun, enjoying the peaceful day on the grass. When they saw Naoki returning, they immediately rushed over to greet him.
Naoki smiled and affectionately patted each one on the head. "How was your day?" he asked.
"Awoo!" replied Dragonite.
"Ah, gah~," rumbled Koraidon happily.
"Mmmmm~," purred Butterfree.
"Nacli, Nacli!" chimed Nacli energetically.
Hearing their cheerful responses, Naoki felt a wave of relief. Everyone was safe and content.
He let the Pokémon continue their play while he went indoors to tidy up the house, which had clearly been the site of lunchtime chaos. It was obvious that while he had been away, Koraidon must have helped prepare lunch for Glaceon and the others.
Naoki noticed the refrigerator was missing quite a few sandwiches, fruits, juice, and milk. Empty milk bottles were scattered around the table, one having even rolled to the floor.
Shaking his head with a smile, Naoki picked up the bottles, cleaned them, and returned them to the refrigerator for future use.
Once the house was tidied, Naoki stepped outside, broom in hand, to sweep away the fallen leaves and dust near the shrine dedicated to Calyrex, the King of Bountiful Harvests.
After placing some fresh fruit in front of the shrine, Naoki paused. Something seemed off. Squatting down to inspect the small Calyrex statue more closely, he noticed cracks forming along the side.
The sun had been particularly harsh lately, and the statue, made of fragile mud, was drying out and cracking under the heat.
Naoki sighed. "Looks like it's time for a new statue."
With nothing urgent on his plate, Naoki decided to replace the statue that afternoon. Gathering his tools and a solid piece of wood, he sat under the eaves of his ranch house, recalling the regal appearance of Calyrex, the King of Bountiful Harvests, as he began to carve the new statue.
As he worked, the sun shone gently on the lawn where the Pokémon played, their laughter and cries filling the air.
Naoki quietly carved the wood, occasionally glancing up to see Dragonite and Koraidon playing in the field.
By 4:20 p.m., the simple wooden sculpture of the King of Bountiful Harvests was finished.
In order to preserve the carving, Naoki went to Kora for help with polishing and waxing the piece, much like one would treat furniture.
"What's this? A giant hammer?" Kora asked, taking the oddly shaped wooden sculpture with its oversized head from Naoki. Her face was full of surprise.
Naoki winced slightly. "Is it ugly?"
Kora looked at it again and smiled. "Well, it's not that ugly."
She turned the wooden sculpture around, noticing that it had a face and legs. "Is this supposed to be a Pokémon?"
"Yes," Naoki nodded. "It's based on a Pokémon called Calyrex, the King of Bountiful Harvests."
He told Kora about the legend of Calyrex, explaining how it was believed to help crops grow. He even suggested that Kora could make a few more statues to sell to nearby farmers, promoting the legend.
All of this, Naoki thought, was part of his plan to summon Glastrier and Spectrier. He hoped that spreading the legend might increase the faith in Calyrex, drawing the Pokémon's attention.
One person's faith might not be enough, but if more people became aware of the King of Bountiful Harvests, perhaps He would sense their devotion.
"Alright, alright," Kora said, waving a hand. "I'll polish and wax it for you, but it'll take some time. Come back tomorrow."
"Thanks," Naoki replied, smiling, before hopping onto Koraidon and riding away.
Meanwhile, in the distant Galar region, Calyrex, the King of Bountiful Harvests, sensed something.
What did He see?
His devout believer, Naoki, had not only placed faith in Him but was actively spreading His name in a faraway and unfamiliar land.
"What a faithful believer!" Calyrex thought, feeling his fondness for Naoki grow.
The power of faith that had accumulated within Calyrex stirred. Though His power was still weak, far from what it once was when He could make vast fields flourish, He could still do something small for one or two individuals.
Calyrex decided to offer Naoki a sign, a nudge to encourage him to visit the Crown Tundra and seek Him out.
Late that night, while everything was asleep, a beam of light filled with the promise of a good harvest shot through the distant time and space, landing on an inconspicuous crop in Naoki's farmland.
In moments, the crop began to transform, growing rapidly. It rooted deeper into the soil, sprouting into a sturdy vine that soon bloomed a tender yellow flower.
Before long, the flower grew into a ripe watermelon, but the changes didn't stop there.
The watermelon swelled, getting larger and larger, outgrowing the other plants around it until it had become a massive super watermelon—about two meters tall.